Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

The three programs with the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program together work to conserve lands for non-agriculture purposes.

Details

• Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Administrator: Direct federal
• Instrument: Competitive/Discretionary Grant
• Status: Active: Accepting applications

Eligible Uses

Protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands or protection of working farms and ranches through conservation easements. This funding will support easements or interests in land that will most reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions. For ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) or Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), applications for the first IRA funding cycle must be submitted by March 17, 2023, for the first funding round. NRCS will prioritize ACEP-ALE for grasslands in areas of highest risk for conversion to non-grassland uses to prevent the release of soil carbon stores. NRCS will prioritize ACEP-WRE for eligible lands that contain soils high in organic carbon.